54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
57 But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
I do not know about anybody else, but when I am frightened, I get cold! I guess that is where we get the term “trembling in fear”! Not only that, I find it more comforting to be in the midst of people when I am scared – I guess I know enough about my own flesh to know that I am not much help in a crisis! We find our protagonist Peter, in his fear, following Jesus at a distance in an effort to blend and go unnoticed - experiencing both of these in our verses for today – when the crowds had kindled a fire, we discover Pete sitting down among them. In the midst of all the commotion, much to Peter’s chagrin, some simple servant girl charges Peter with being a companion of Jesus. Peter, we are told, denies such allegations – stating firmly that he did not know Him. Contrast this behavior with his brave statement of loyalty to Jesus just a few verses prior:
33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Luke 22:33 (NIV)
Words oftentimes flow much easier than actions do they not? Talk sans ensuing deeds is certainly cheap. It is cheap in love, it is cheap in business, it is cheap in the pulpit, it is cheap in relationships and it is cheap in discipleship. Lest we think we are casting stones at Peter by stating the facts of Scripture, we are not - we too can be as impetuous and zealous in our proclamations of what we will or will not do. I am confident that Peter was convinced of his statement – he believed that he would fulfill what he was vowing; he just neglected to reflect for a moment on the weakness of his flesh. Flesh wants to preserve flesh – it is a very natural instinct. We all come well equipped with SOS (Save Our Skin) DNA! Peter’s failure to follow through on his promise should come as a warning for us to be careful to guard our words and our ways as we are just as easy to fall. We must remember too that this incident occurred prior to Peter having the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Flesh will fail us, Jesus will not and the One who gives the power gets the glory.
“We must first be in Christ before we are new creatures...Look not for sanctification, nor for genuine fruits of righteousness, till thy soul is united unto Christ by a living faith; for it is faith that purifies the heart, and works (that is produces good works) by love. Thou must first be in Christ, grafted into Christ by faith, before thou canst be a new creature.” K.H. Von Bogatzky
Scripture states the following regarding making a vow:
"This is what the LORD commands: 2 When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. Num 30:1-2 (NIV)
Jesus reiterates this in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew:
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matt 5:33-37 (NIV)
One’s life should be sufficient to back up one’s word. Are we a people who do what we say? Do we make thoughtless and vast promises that we do not keep? Do we speak the truth in love or do we blow with whatever wind of conversation encircles us at the time? Do our lives reflect our words – practicing what we preach or have we simply learned the art of stating only what people want to hear – changing our views with each audience? Standing for everything and therefore standing for nothing.
"There may be no trumpet sound or loud applause when we make the right decision, just a calm sense of resolution and peace." Gloria Gaither
A wise person uses words with restraint. A wise person gives thought to his words. In fact the Bible teaches:
27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. 28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Prov 17:27-28 (NIV)
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Prov 10:19 (NIV)
“Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness.” C.H. Spurgeon
“Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it.” Charles Swindoll